Faith Talk Spring 2014

10 Tips to Help Protect Your Child Online PAGE 25

The Uncommon Couple Scan Code With Smart Phone

Parenting advice from Tony and Lauren Dungy PAGE 16

Whose values are being taught to your Children?

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Welcome to the 2014 Spring/Summer edition of FaithTalk Magazine where our focus for this issue is on building spiritually strong families and children. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to ‘train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it’.

This verse is both a command and a comfort. It gives us a directive, but at the same time assures us that if we’re faithful to do our part, God is faithful and will do His part.

But where do we start?

Many of you are already shouting the answer – God’s Word. Teaching our children Bible verses and reading the Bible to them from the time that they’re young sets them on the path to their own relationship with Christ. Worshiping together as a family each week in church is a second foundation key in the ‘train up’ process.

BARBARA YODER GENERAL MANAGER 5211 W. Laurel St. Tampa, FL 33607 ph- 813-349-8232 f - 813-639-1272 barb@salemtampa.com www.salemtampa.com www.letstalkfaith.com www.talkradio860.com www.wlssradio.com

Our children also need our time and encouragement. In Truett Cathy’s book It’s Better To Build Boys Than Mend Men, he wrote “How do you know if a child needs encouragement? If he or she is breathing.” Though his remarks make us smile, they’re all too true.

Daily instruction in a Christian school is another excellent way to ‘train up’ your children. Have you heard about our Half Price Tuition program in partnership with many Christian schools in Tampa Bay? At www.LetsTalkFaith.com click on the Half Price School Tuition banner to see how to connect your child with a life changing Christian school experience. Be sure and tell your friends! And if you know a school that would like to join our others, just let me know and I’d be glad to share the program information with them.

I pray that you find encouragement within these pages and when you listen to FaithTalk 570 & 910!

Many Blessings,

BARBARA J. YODER GENERAL MANAGER Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN Tampa Bay’s Christian Talk L E T S TA L K F A I T H . C O M

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Parenting Advice from the Uncommon Couple

by Lauren and Tony Dungy

WTBN Program Highlights & Schedule GEN3 Promise

from Focus on the Family FOUNDATION OF MARRIAGE MAKING THE TEAM - Motivate through Christ

by Pastor Stephen Rummage GETTING TECHNOLOGY ON YOUR SIDE

10 TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN ONLINE

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CHOOSING WHOSE VALUES ARE TAUGHT TO YOUR CHILDREN

by Bill Bunkley HALF PRICE SCHOOL TUITIONS

ON THE COVER: Lauren and Tony Dungy.

Photograph courtesy or Tyndale House Publishers.

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www.letstalkfaith.com www.salemtampa.com www.salem.cc

General Manager BARBARA YODER barb@salemtampa.com

Production Director/Morning Host BILL CARL bcarl@salemtampa.com

Marketing/Promotions Director DENISE SHREAVES dshreaves@salemtampa.com

The Bill Bunkley Show Host BILL BUNKLEY afternoons@letstalkfaith.com

Executive Sales Director MERRY BROCKET merryb@salemtampa.com

The Bill Bunkley Show Producer/ On-Air Studio Engineer HORACE ANDREWS afternoons@letstalkfaith.com

Operations Manager JOE WEAVER jweaver@salemtampa.com Business/Traffic Director KIMO GRAY kimo@salemtampa.com

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Office Manager/Human Resources TAMMY BANCROFT tammyb@salemtampa.com Account Executive (Sarasota) RACHEL KNIPFER rachelsarasota@salemtampa.com Account Executive ANDREW FINDER andrewf@salemtampa.com Sales Assistant LAURA DIEZ laurad@salemtampa.com Web/Graphic Project Coordinator ZULIMAR RODRIGUEZ zuli@salemtampa.com

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The Home Team Host & Sales PAUL PORTER paul@salemtampa.com Chief Engineer ROBERT HAILEY robert.hailey@salemtampa.com On-Air Studio Engineer/Operations Asst. Mgr. JOSE CRUZ josec@salemtampa.com On-Air Studio Engineer CHRISTIAN GANLEY christiang@salemtampa.com Promotions Coordinator/On-Air Host CASEY MYRICK cmyrick@salemtampa.com Traffic Coordinator CINDY SHEFFER cindy@salemtampa.com

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LetsTalkFaith.com WTBN MORNINGS WITH BILL CARL 5:30 - 10 AM WEEKDAYS 12:00 am Hope in the Night with June Hunt (Tuesday - Friday) 2:00 am Jay Sekulow Live 2:30 am Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery, & John Fuller 3:00 am Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff 3:30 am In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley 4:00 am Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef 4:30 am Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah 5:00 am Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey 5:30 am Joni and Friends with Joni Eareckson Tada 5:45 am Just Thinking with Ravi Zacharias 6:00 am Verse By Verse with Steve Kreloff 6:30 am Grace To You with John MacArthur 7:00 am Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery & John Fuller 7:30 am Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress 8:00 am Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage 8:30 am Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah 9:00 am Someone Loves You with Raul Ries 9:30 am Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R.C. Sproul

WTBN MID-DAYS WITH CASEY BELL 10:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 12:00 pm 12:30 pm 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 2:00 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm

WTBN WEEKDAY EVENINGS

Bibleline with Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold 4:00 pm Hope For The Heart with June Hunt 6:00 pm In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley 6:30 pm Leading The Way with 7:00 pm Dr. Michael Youssef Jay Sekulow Live 7:30 pm Faith In Practice with Dr. A.R. Bernard 8:00 pm Grace To You with John MacArthur 8:30 pm Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah 9:00 pm Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage 9:30 pm Watchman on the Wall with Noah Hutchings 10:00 pm Special Programming 10:30 pm 11:00 pm 11:30 pm

The Bill Bunkley Show Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery, & John Fuller Adventures in Odyssey with Whit & the Gang Bibleline with Ralph “Yankee” Arnold Someone Loves You with Raul Ries In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley Faith In Practice with Dr. A.R. Bernard Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R.C. Sproul Grace To You with John MacArthur

The Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN Program Schedule is subject to change at any time.

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LetsTalkFaith.com WTBN SATURDAYS 12:00 am 2:00 am 2:30 am 3:00 am 3:30 am 4:00 am 4:30 am 5:00 am 5:30 am 7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 9:30 am 11:00 am 11:30 am 1:00 pm 1:30 pm 4:30 pm 5:00 pm 6:00 pm 9:00 pm 11:00 pm

Hope in the Night with June Hunt Jay Sekulow Weekend Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, Juli Slattery, and John Fuller Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff In Touch Weekend Edition with Dr. Charles Stanley Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah Paws & Tales Grace to You with John MacArthur Renewing Your Mind Weekend Edition with Dr. R.C. Sproul Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah Ask An Attorney with Joseph Pippen Jene’s Tropicals with Jene Van Butsel For The Fathers Ministry with Fred Myers Under His Influence with Tom Whitaker, Dave Geisler & Mark Woodson Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church with Pastor Jeffrey Singletary Love First Christian Center with Dr. Jomo Cousins Jay Sekulow Weekend The Universe Next Door with Dr. Tom Woodward Higher Praise with Pastor Stephen Nunn Baldwin McCullough Live with Kevin McCullough and Steven Baldwin Steve Brown Etc.

WTBN SUNDAYS 12:00 am 1:00 am 2:00 am 2:30 am 3:00 am 3.30 am 4:00 am 4:30 am 5:00 am 6:00 am 7:00 am 7:30 am 8:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:30 am 10:00 am 10:30 am 11:00 am

In Touch Weekend Focus on the Family Weekend Jay Sekulow Replay Moving Forward Verse By Verse In Touch Weekend Leading the Way Turning Point Weekend The Christian Outlook Townhall Weekend Journal Family Life This Week with Dennis Rainey Verse by Verse with Pastor Steve Kreloff Renewing Your Mind with Dr. R.C. Sproul Road to Reality with K.P. Yohannan Pathway to Victory with Dr. Robert Jeffress Moving Forward with Dr. Stephen Rummage Bibleline with Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold Grace To You Weekend with John MacArthur The Bill Bunkley Show Weekend Edition

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12:00 pm 1:00 pm 2:00 pm 5:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:00 pm 8:00 pm 9:00 pm 10:00 pm 11:00 pm

Focus on the Family Weekend Ministry Spotlight with Bill Carl The World and Everything In It with Nick Eicher and Joseph Slife Best of Ask An Attorney with Attorney Joe Pippen Leading the Way Weekend with Dr. Michael Youssef Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church with Pastor Jeffrey Singletary Watchman on the Wall with Noah Hutchings In Touch Weekend with Dr. Charles Stanley Bill Bunkley Weekend Townhall Weekend Journal The Christian Outlook

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GEN3 was created to inspire and encourage men and women at all stages of life to have a thriving family for three generations.

The GEN3 Promise starts with you. Living the GEN3 life is the intentional pursuit of making small day-to-day decisions that become the foundation of thriving marriages and families for three generations. Deciding to have a GEN3 future starts with a single step -- a promise to invest in family. No matter what stage of life you are in or the mistakes you have made in the past, this decision has the power to change your life and future generations. If you desire to transform your family and relationships, we want to help. We will be with you on this journey, providing guidance and encouragement to help you live out the GEN3 Promise.

Will you join us?

Scan the code below with your smartphone to watch an inspirational video message from Jim Daly, President of Focus on The Family.

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DATE

For more information about the GEN3 Promise visit focusonthefamily.com “. . . showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments�

(Deuteronomy 5:10, NIV).

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The Foundation of Marriage

By Jeff Johnston

During His earthly ministry, Jesus was constantly asked questions, including ones about marriage and sexuality. How did He respond? What can we learn from Him about marriage?

What Jesus Said About Marriage Because He had earned the reputation of being a wise teacher, people asked Jesus questions all the time, including ones about marriage. When asked about divorce and remarriage, for example, He pointed back to the 12

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foundation of marriage, in the very beginning. Jesus quotes the book of Genesis and describes God’s design for human sexuality at creation, the way things were supposed to be before man disobeyed Him. Here’s what Jesus said, and below we’ll draw out some of the important points He is making about marriage and sexuality:

“Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

Male and Female Jesus first reminded His followers that in the very beginning, God made humanity in His own image, male and female. Men and women are different, yet complementary; specifically designed by God to complete each other. Both are intrinsically valuable. The male body and the female body show us we are physically complementary, but being a man or a woman isn’t only about biology; a husband and wife fit together body, soul and spirit.

Union Jesus also pointed His followers to God’s plan for marriage.

Marriage uniquely brings together a man and a woman so the two may become one. God established marriage to be a life-long, faithful relationship between a husband and a wife — full of joy, love and intimacy. Marriage is a relationship where two people, joined to each other and to God: listen and talk to each other; pray and worship together; share work and ministry

in the world; and create and raise a next generation, it rests at the family together. foundation of society — before government, religion, schools or Sexual Intimacy other man-made institutions.

Sex is a good thing, as it was Reflecting His Image created by God. Sexual desire moves us toward intimacy with Being created in God’s image another, and marriage is the one means men and women reflect place God established for sexual different aspects of God’s character: love to occur. Such intimacy is Justice and Mercy; Strength and powerful, uniting two people Beauty; Initiation and Response. physically, emotionally and These complementary masculine spiritually. God’s desire was for a and feminine qualities show us married couple to enjoy each other something about who God is. without fear, hiding or shame.

A Spiritual Picture New Life While every person reflects The marriage relationship was aspects of the image of God, also intended to be fruitful. After a husband and wife union is all, one of the more obvious results the most important picture in of a sexual relationship is children. the Bible of how intimate our A husband and wife typically relationship with God can be. God bring new life into the world. God is portrayed as the “husband” who designed marriage to join them to loves us, and we are like the “wife,” each other to be mother and father who responds back to Him. In the to any children their union creates. New Testament, Christ is pictured Mom and dad are the two best as the groom; the Church is His people to provide for and educate bride. Marriage shows us how their children. Because marriage deep and intimate our relationship creates, nurtures and equips the with God can be!

Copyright © 2014 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.

This article is part one of a series written for Focus on the Family’s Thriving Values resources.

To stand firm for biblical truths in today’s culture, being prepared begins at home — especially when it comes to life, marriage and religious freedom. As 1 Peter 3:15 exhorts, Christians — in all ages and stages of life — need to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that they have.

This includes articulating why God’s design for marriage matters and why it’s in the best interest of children and all of society. With this in mind, Focus on the Family has created a FREE two-part “Talking to Children about Marriage” downloadable resource to get the conversation started. To access these files scan the QR code with your smartphone.

Jeff Johnston works as an Issues Analyst for Focus on the Family, writing and teaching about marriage, homosexuality and gender, as well as encouraging and equipping Christians to engage the culture on these issues. He regularly shares his story of struggling as a Christian with same-sex attractions and how God brought healing and change to his life. Before working at Focus on the Family, Jeff served as the Director of Regeneration, a ministry dedicated to providing resources and support for men and women who experience same-sex attraction, as well as for their loved ones and for churches and ministries. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s in English and a Teaching Credential. Jeff and his wife, Judy, have been married 20 years and have three teenage sons.

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Oct. 15, 2013: WTBN’s 10th Annual Pastors Appreciation Lunch at A La Carte Event Pavilion - Tampa

Dec. 17, 2013 Live Broadcast from The Salvation Army in St Pete.

WTBN broadcast live from the Thanksmas Celebration sharing with listeners what was happening as Tampa Bay Ray’s Coach, Joe Maddon prepared and served food for the homeless and needy.

WTBN broadcasts & promotions at local festivals Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival at downtown Curtis Hixon Park in Jan. (L), Fl. State Fair (Middle) in Feb. and Bill Bunkley introduced musician Heanon Tate at Fl. Strawberry Festival (R) during Gospel Sunday in March.

Feb. 4, 2014 The Great Turn Around

WTBN & Cross International Joined Forces

WTBN’s very own Bill Bunkley emceed the Assure Women’s Center Annual Fundraising Gala

Several hundred children in Haiti received a Christian education and daily meals as a result of listener donations.

Tom Lewis, Barb Yoder, Bill Carl and Jim Veldhuis

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3 Reasons to

Make Your Family a Team

By Lauren Dungy, Ambassador for iMOM.com

In our family, we have a very concrete example of teamwork – football. My husband, Tony, was an NFL coach, and our son, Eric, plays college football. So we understand what teamwork means, and try to work that concept into our family life (minus the hitting and tackling, of course!).

But even without the football or sports connection, there are still ways to build your family into a team. And making your family a team has wonderful benefits for your children. It can teach them selflessness, cooperation, and develop a strong family bond.

Dungy Family Portrait Courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers

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1. There’s no “I” in Team Teamwork develops selflessness.

Children who know that they are part of a bigger whole are more willing to let go of their own wants and wishes when it’s for the good of the team – that’s selflessness.

You can explain the concept of selflessness to your children with a humorous story, like this one: What if Mom only did the dishes when she wanted to? What if she said, “You know what, I don’t feel like doing the dishes ever again, I just want to do what I want to do.”

Pretty soon, we’d have no clean plates, or forks, or spoons. We’d be a pretty messy family because we’d have to use our hands to eat

all of the time! But I would never do that! I know that for the good of our family, our team, I need to do my part. Of course, you guys are welcome to help me with the dishes whenever you want to.

2. Team Teaches Cooperation When a family has a team mindset, kids realize that as the team goes, so go they. For example, the family can’t go swimming if they don’t get the house straightened. So, if one child is having a hard time picking up his room, the other chips in.

He cooperates because he knows this will help the team move on to the prize.

Take advantage of opportunities like that to praise your children when they do show an “all for one and one for all” mentality. Thank the child who helped and point out his willingness to cooperatte in front of the entire family.

And when you need further motivation for promoting teamwork at home, remember that learning to be a good teammate will help your children later in life – on the job, and in guiding their own families.

3. Team Victories Develop Closeness Individual successes are celebrated, but so is family success. Did everyone get dressed on time for church? Yay, team! Did we do a good deed as a family by helping someone in need? Good work, team! Helping your children feel a part of a bigger whole brings them closer to you and their siblings.

Another way to do that is to

actually call your family by team name. In my house, we’re “Team Dungy.” Try it in your home.

When you’re heading out the door on time for school for the fifth day in a row, say, “Good work getting ready, Team Carlton, let’s get ice cream after school to celebrate leaving the house on time every day this week.”

You can also use the team mindset to reinforce your family values. “ You know, on ‘Team Carlton’ we don’t use hitting when we’re upset with each other. We use our words to work things out instead.”

So try these ideas to build teamwork into your family life.

Go Team!

Along with being a wife and mother, Lauren Dungy is an education specialist and author. Learn more about Lauren’s work with iMOM, online at iMOM.com and visit their website for hundreds of free printables, family conversation starters, and great advice for raising your children to grow in wisdom and stature, and find favor with all those with whom they come in contact. iMOM strives to help mothers raise their children – ages newborn to teenager – to grow in wisdom and stature, and find favor with all those with whom they come in contact. iMOM has more than 100,000 followers on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. For more information on iMOM, visit www.imom.com

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By Tony Dungy

By Tony Spokesperson Dungy for All Pro Dad Spokesperson for All Pro Dad

When it comes to football, I consider myself a big picture guy.

When I was coaching, I had to keep my eye on lots of things at once–the scoreboard, the play on the field, the time left on the clock. I couldn’t afford to zero in on just one element and leave the rest outside my scope of attention.

Even now as an analyst, I take the big picture approach so that I can monitor many games at once.

So when I went to one of my son Eric’s first football games at the University of Oregon, I was surprised to find myself watching the game with tunnel vision, instead of taking in the big picture.

I wasn’t watching any of the things I usually watch. My eyes were locked in on my son, number 19. No matter where he was, in on a play or standing with his teammates on the sideline, I never lost sight of one-nine.

It amazed me what I noticed because I was totally concentrating and focusing on him. After the game, over dinner with Eric, I could recall every play he had been

in on with great detail. I could tell him about a missed block on one play, a great move he made in another, or a route he cut a little short in the third quarter.

That’s when it dawned on me– dads, and moms, need to add tunnel vision to their parenting skill set. Sure, look at the big picture, but have tunnel vision too so that you can be totally focused on your child and see what’s going on in their life.

Here’s how to add in a dose of tunnel vision as your children grow.

Infant to Toddler. This is when your tunnel vision is primarily focused on your child’s health and milestone development. Zero in while your child is playing or when you’re interacting together.

Try not to let distractions like your cell phone or computer prevent you from really seeing your child.

At this stage of your child’s life, she needs you to give her your full attention when she’s interacting with you. The more distracted you are, the more you might miss.

Tony Dungy is an NBC Football Analyst and a Super Bowl-winning coach.

And beyond the health and development focus, these are wonderful times that you’ll want to remember in detail. The only way you can do that is to use that tunnel vision a lot.

Early Elementary and Tweens.

At this stage, children are maturing emotionally at a rapid rate. Use your tunnel vision to connect on that emotional level. Again, you’ll have to make focusing on your children a priority. How? Eat meals together, pray together at bedtime, start offering less advice and ask more questions instead. Make eye contact with your children when they’re talking to you.

Teen and Beyond. Even when your children become more independent, you still need to use tunnel vision. Make it a point to know what they’re doing, where they’re going, and with whom they’re spending their time. Zero in on what’s going on in their lives and really listen when they do open up to you.

It’s easy to let the big picture of life distract us from the details of our children’s lives. But if we add tunnel vision to our parenting, what we see will make us, and our children, a lot better off.

About All Pro Dad... All Pro Dad strives to help fathers become passionate about their role in their family’s life. All Pro Dad provides daily parenting resources to help fathers strengthen their relationships with their children and give them a hopeful future. Resources, including daily emails, blogs, Top 10 lists, articles, printable tools, videos and eBooks, are available at allprodad.com. Fathers can also sign up to start or attend All Pro Dad’s Days chapters. All Pro Dad maintains an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. To learn more, visit www.allprodad.com.

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Making The Team

In 2010, the Chicago Bears website presented a series of videos that followed the team’s rookies from their first arrival at training camp through the preseason.

One video showed Coach Lovie Smith’s first orientation talk with the rookie class.

The team roster begins with 80 football players who come to camp.

From there, the coaches make an initial cut to take the team down to 65 players.

When the season actually begins, all NFL teams are required to trim down to 53 players.

Of the 19 rookies who came to the 2010 Bears training camp, the team would probably retain only around 7.

So, every rookie is wondering, “Will I make the team? Who will get cut?”

Knowing that, Coach Smith addressed the rookies’ concern in his talk to the 2010 class.

the coaches’ hands. To play so well in practice that the coaches could not imagine cutting them. He concluded: “Let your performance make the decision for us.”

That’s a smart motivational strategy for a coach to use.

However, most people mistakenly believe that God works the same way.

They might imagine God saying: “You want to make it into Heaven?

You want to make my team and have eternal life? Then make me put you on the team. Live such a good life, do so many good deeds that I could not imagine rejecting you.

Take the decision out of my hands.”

Truth is, the best life we could ever offer to God will not be good enough to get us into Heaven.

The Bible says: We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah His challenge to them was: “Make 64:6) us put you on the team.” He urged We might expect God to say that them to take the decision out of our sin is like a polluted garment.

By Pastor Stephen Rummage

But His Word says that even our works of righteousness – the best efforts we can serve up to Him – are unacceptable and fall short of His perfect standards.

That’s why – in His grace and mercy – God sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus makes unworthy, sinful people like you and me acceptable in God’s sight.

God’s Word says: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-5) By the way, Coach Lovie Smith is a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He knows that, while making a pro football team is a performance-based issue, being saved is a grace issue!

Praise God that He saves us by His grace and His grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Have a great day, and keep moving forward!

Stephen Rummage is the Senior Pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida, a multi-campus church with over 9,000 members in the Tampa Bay area. He is a frequent guest speaker for churches and conferences across the United States. His daily radio teaching ministry, Moving Forward, airs throughout Florida and nationwide on Sirius/XM satellite radio. Dr. Rummage’s personal ministry vision is to teach God’s Word to transform lives. He and his wife, Michele, live near Brandon, along with their son, Joshua.

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Stephen Nelson Rummage 2102 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon, Florida 33511-6699 Office: (813) 689-4229, Ext. 241 pastor@bellshoals.com www.StephenRummage.com

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Getting Technology on Your Side

By Bob Waliszewski Computer scientist Alan Kay once said, “Technology is anything that was invented after you were born.” In my case, that cell phone app certainly applies. Still, while it’s nearly impossible to keep on top of all the latest, fastest, and coolest technological advances, most parents are no longer totally in the dark. The “technology gap” has shrunk considerably in the last few years to the point where many mothers and fathers regularly “text” their kids—some even while they’re in the same house! (I don’t recommend this.)

So, if the tech divide has been bridged, what’s the great challenge?

Most likely your young person will be online sometime today. With wireless Internet and phones that double as computers, will he or she be exposed to harmful influences—right under your nose?

What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Kids Even though the “technology gap” isn’t what it once was, it would be naïve to say it’s a nonissue. Depending upon where you are on the technology curve, it’s still possible that your child’s expertise with a certain product, software, or device puts him or her at risk—while you remain unaware. If not, the next hot product may become that Trojan horse.

Because technology is moving at a breakneck pace, evaluating the 22

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implications of new devices and tools could be a full-time job. What’s more, products released to rave reviews just a few years ago (and that we finally understand) now gather dust on the shelves of Goodwill stores.

Fortunately, we don’t all have to become tech geeks. We just need to know what our own children are into—and become familiar with the benefits, pitfalls, and safeguards technology provides. But no matter where you are on the gizmo-knowledge curve, protecting your kids from

the negative aspects of technology requires active parental involvement.

1) Know how much your child is using technology.

How much time is being spent?

Many young people seem overly attached to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. The Nielsen Company, looking at global Internet use in 2010, found that Facebook users spent an average of more than 5.5 hours on the site per month—up from 2 hours, 10 minutes spent there

just two years before. In the U.S. alone, time spent on Facebook surged by 200 percent between 2009 and 2010, and time spent on Twitter shot up 368 percent.

And speaking of tech addiction, let’s not forget video games.

From June 2008 to June 2009, the amount of time the average console video gamer spent playing each month jumped 21 percent to 12.8 hours, according to Nielsen Media Research.

38 percent. If potential employers think it’s important to investigate, how much more do parents need to know what’s going on?

3) The Helpful Side of Technology

While technology can be a foe, it can also be a great family friend. In fact, I believe some of today’s technological marvels are almost must-haves for the home. Safeguarding our kids has 2) What is Your Child Is Doing become much easier because of with Technology? these modern wonders, with many other helpful gadgets coming right I told my children up front that around the corner. Here are three e-mails, instant messaging, and already on the market: Internet history were open to other family members. They could read • The DVR. As I’ve already mine; I could read theirs. I could mentioned, there’s the digital check the sites they visited, and video recorder. At this they were welcome to see where I’d writing, only 40 percent of been.

U.S. homes have this device.

When my children lived under The DVR also allows families my roof, I regularly visited their to watch at their convenience social networking sites (and still instead of the network’s. do, for different reasons).

More importantly, you can Some parents might be reluctant choose to use it to record to try this, believing it to be an only positive programming unhealthy invasion of privacy. But that meets a healthy family consider this: In 2008, 22 percent of standard. managers checked job applicants’ social networking profiles before • The ClearPlay machine. hiring. A year later, that jumped to This device, available at

many Christian bookstores and focusonthefamily.com, allows families to rent or buy off-the-shelf DVD movies and some television series, then view them with offensive content edited out.

• Internet filters. The Internet can help your daughter study for her final exam. It can help your son improve his high-jump form for track. But since it also offers millions of inappropriate sites, a growing number of families are using Internet filtering products.

Being Brave in the Brave New World Space doesn’t allow me to list all the ways in which technology delivers information and entertainment, whether beneficially or otherwise.

The important thing is that your child shouldn’t be wandering through the potential landmines without your regular oversight and involvement. And you don’t have to provide that guidance without the help of technology itself. For updated reports on how the latest media and machinery might affect your family, go to pluggedin.com.

Bob Waliszewski is director of Focus on the Family’s Plugged In department, which features the Plugged In Online website, PluggedIn. com. The site and its various smart phone apps provide up-to-date reviews of new movie releases and information on the hottest music, television, DVDs and video games impacting popular youth culture. Waliszewski reaches more than 700 radio stations and internet outlets weekly with his syndicated “Plugged In Movie Review” feature. The audio version of the review was nominated for a National Religious Broadcaster’s award in 2011.

As the specialist for Plugged In, Waliszewski has been interviewed extensively by media outlets such as CNN, CNBC, Daystar Television, MSNBC’s “Scarborough Country,” Fox News Radio Network’s “The Alan Colmes Show,” the Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times and The New York Times in which he most often tackles the controversial entertainment issues that confront families. He was also featured on CBN’s 700 Club, FamilyNet’s At Home Live!, Focus on the Family’s Mind over Media video, a History Channel special entitled The Passion: Films, Faith & Fury and Shine TV New Zealand. Waliszewski regularly speaks to teens and parents on popular culture, and was called to testify before a subcommittee of California legislators on the subject of violent lyrics.

Waliszewski has written articles for several Focus on the Family publications (Citizen, LifeWise and Breakaway). In May 1997, Waliszewski was presented with an Evangelical Press Association “Higher Goals” award for an article on gangs written for Teachers in Focus magazine. Waliszewski co-authored “Chart Watch”, a book that includes more than 400 album reviews from a biblical perspective, and chapters on media discernment, and “Plugged In Parenting: How to Raise Media-Savvy Kids with Love, Not War”, released in July 2011.

A former youth pastor, Waliszewski joined the Focus on the Family team in September 1991. He is married to Leesa, and they have two adult children. Waliszewski enjoys snow- and water-skiing and an occasional half-marathon.

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10 TIPS TO HELP PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN ONLINE 1.

Have open, honest discussions with your child about online safety and responsibility

Written by

2.

Put in place rules for being online and sign an Internet Safety Contract with your child

3. Keep the computer in a centralized location so that you know when your child is online.

To access original article please scan this code with your smart phone

4. Remind your son or daughter not to give out personal information or send

personal materials on the Internet. This includes address, telephone number, name or location of their school, their parents’ names or photographs.

5.

Help your child to choose gender-neutral online names to mask their actual name and gender.

6. Tell your child to inform you when they come across anything that makes them uncomfortable. You can then contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to report any suspicious activity.

7. Let your child know that they should never respond to messages or posts that are sexually obscene, threatening or make them uncomfortable in any way. They should ignore the message and alert an adult to the situation.

8. Be sure that they know that they should never, under any circumstance, agree to meet faceto-face with a stranger that was met online.

9. Inform your child that people online may not be who they say they are. Maintain a healthy level

of suspicion.

10. Invest in Internet Filtering Software, such as Net Nanny, that allows you to know where your child

is going online, who they are talking to and what they are saying.

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Choosing Whose Values Are Taught To Your Children

By Bill Bunkley

Bill Bunkley

Host of The Bill Bunkley Show

Bill Bunkley, is the President of the Florida Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and a familiar voice throughout Florida. A native of Tampa, Bill brings his experience to today’s current spiritual, political, and cultural issues. Tune in to The Bill Bunkley Show weekdays from 4-6 PM on Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN. His commentary “Something to Think About” can also be heard daily on Talk Radio AM 860 WGUL and News Talk AM 930 WLSS as well as on Faith Talk 570 & 910 WTBN. Scan with Smartphonee

The cultural landscape is swiftly changing across Florida and the nation.

Values that were cherished and embraced long before our nation’s founding are today in the cross hairs of some who do not embrace our nation’s traditional Christian worldview. In fact, an increasing number of individuals are not only opposing our Christian worldview, but are very belligerently and militantly opposing anything related to Christianity.

This new cultural reality produces a new challenge for parents who dutifully seek to be Proverbs 22:6 parents, that is parents who seriously accept the personal responsibility of raising up their children in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord.

And there is no greater area where that shepherding is so vitally important than where and from whom their children receive their formal education during their formative years.

Unfortunately, we are seeing an alarming trend around the nation toward the secular sanitization of anything having to do with God, especially within the confines of our public schools. Truly we are

witnessing the incremental removal of God from the classroom.

And I am not just talking about the current constitutional protections for students to engage in student lead religious activity on a public school campus. I deliberately use the word “current” constitutional protections because our 1st Amendment Religious Liberty rights are being trumped in ever increasing ways and who knows how long these protections will last.

What I am talking about is the open hostility by some school officials around the country towards any student that openly expresses his or her convictions about living a Godly live and claims Jesus Christ to be their Lord & Savior.

That hostility leaves parents with a new responsibility to actively monitor the daily learning environment of their children to be sure that what is being taught in their home is not being subverted once the kids get to the classroom.

I cannot stress how important it is at this point for Christian parents to be active in their public school PTA and other support activities. Taking that local

engagement to the School Board level is equally critical.

But depending on the severity of the clashing of worldviews at their public school, parents must decide with much prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit at what point they are to seek an alternate educational environment for their kids in a Christian setting. Where best can they fulfill their responsibility to be Proverbs 22:6 parents?

Fortunately for parents who must make a change to a Christian school, we have a host of accredited faith based schools available throughout Central Florida to choose from. For many parents it will be a decision requiring a reprioritization of the family budget. But it is well worth it.

Either way all of us in the Christian community have a responsibility to speak out more than we have in the public square about not giving up our 1st Amendment Religious Liberty protections. And one way for you to get started might be to watch and implement some of values and tips from the recent movie release of “God’s Not Dead.”

Copyright © William H. (Bill) Bunkley 2014 All Rights Reserved.

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